Perdomo Habano Maduro Review

9/28/2014

Cigar: Perdomo Habano Maduro
Size: Robusto, 5.0”x52
MSRP: $6.50
Strength: Medium-Full
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Origin: Nicaragua

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Prelight: The wrapper of the Perdomo Habano Maduro is the color of chocolate, smooth, oily, and floral n aroma; quite a delicious first impression. The foot is extremely dense, and packed with near-black tobacco that smells like chocolate. After using a guillotine, the draw seems a bit loose, but the taste is a wonderful blend of chocolate and wood.

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1/3: The cigar lights up easily and in the first few pulls, pepper burns my nose in the retrohale. This is typical and I expect it will calm down, but it doesn’t. The pepper continues to increase through the first third. The smoke output is impressive, but the ash and burn line is ugly, requiring a few minor touchups. There seems to be a slight note of coffee trying to break through the copious amounts of pepper.

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2/3: The flavors continue to be dominated by pepper, and the burn keeps needing frequent touchups. There is hardly a breeze, the ambient is 65%/70*F, and this cigar had been sitting in my desktop at 63% for a few months. The trouble I am going through for this pepper bomb is disappointing. Maybe, just maybe, there is a hint of mocha, but I may be reaching.

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3/3: The final third is bitter, harsh, black pepper, and I have had enough. I don’t even try to nub this cigar, it’s not worth it.

Overall: The prelight experience set my hopes high, but they were dashed by poor burn and bad flavors. I like peppery cigars, but not when that pepper is harsh and bitter. Maybe I got a dud, but I don’t think I’ll ever find out, as I am going to avoid this cigar in the future.